Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-21
THE CHANGE IN THE PRoHIBIToKy
LAW.
The Case not Quite as bad AS supposed
liquor may Stiil be seized without
Warrant at Musters and Agri-
puItnruI Pairs.

liquor may Stiil be seized without
Warrant at Musters and Agri-
cultural Fairs.
To the Editor of the Free Press:
The articles upon the prohibtory law
which have recently appeared in the FREE
PRESS evidently call for an explanation
as to whether there has been mistake
made and if so to whom the blame belongs.
The following bill was introduced by re-
quest in the Senate by Senator Hale, and
referred to the special committee on tenn
perance legislation.
IL is hereby enacted by The General Assem-
Oily Of the state of Vermont.
section |. Number i3 OF the laws of 1882 is
hereby am, ndcd so as to read as follows:
only one person, man or woman shall be re-
QuIreI to make. sign and swc ar to IA complaint
Tor Il warrant of search aud seizure instead of
three vote :, rs now provided in section three
thousand eight hundred and eighteen Of the
revised laws.
ScotIun2. In all cases where now. 10y any of
the provisions OF $ id chapter an officer is an.
thor zcd 80 seize intoxicating liquors, or the
casks Or vessels containing the anne, by VIZ
tue of Il warrant, ia, rCiOr, he may selZ1 the
same without IL warrant, and keep the liquors,
casks or vessels, 30 seized. IN some safe place,
and shall forthwith procure such warrant,
and he shall thCrcupOn make return of his
doings under said warra in the same man
ncr as he would have done had the issuing of
Nnc W. rraut preceded SllCn StlHulC.
Section 3. This act shall take eject from its
passage.
The bill was then left in perfect conf
dence in their hands, to he combined with
other measures, what those measures
were WaSiunknOWn to the OrlglnatOrS of
the above bill.
1t does not seem possible that the com
mittce could unwittingly have left ont
section with the printed bill before them
Section was placed in the amendment as
precautionary measure lest it should get
left. Although it has a serious weakness,
which perhaps is not at once apparent
notiCe-it says the officers may seize
liquors without a warrant, which leaves
the case optional with the officer. And
cases could be cited where officers have
refused to act until the warrant could be
drawn up aud signed by Il justice, in such
cases it would have been better had there
been no such misleading section. If every
town in the State had a Sheriff Barton it
would be a matter greatly to be deplored
that section , is repealed.
But it IS to be hoped the public will
not be allowed to think that the right to
seize liquors without a warrant is taken
away thereby rs may be seem by referring
TO Il laws 1921 On compilation of Pro
hibitOry laws of 1854 No. 59), which is Il
much stronger law than the section re
ferred TO. in that it save the officer shan
seize. although the place is limited.
a sheriff, sherh's deputy, constable select
man or grand juror. if he has information
that intoxicating liquor is kept with an in
tcntiOu to sell, or is sold in any tent, shanty,
hut or place of any kind for SELL Y refresh
ments in Il public place, except dwelling
houses, on Ur near the ground of cattle
show, agricultural exhibition, military muster
pr public occasion Of any kind. SHAH search
>ucn suspected place without a warrant, and
II such officer finds u ION the premises intOX-
icatiup liquor, he shall seize che same and
apprchend the keeper of such place and take
him with the liquors so seized, forthwith or
as soon as conveniently may be before Il
justice, etc.
An officer refusing to act under the
above statute lays himself liable to a fine
OF not less than $40 or over 300.
According to compiled laws No. IS it
IS generally admitted that the Creates
source OF weakness in our law is the re
luctance Of people to make complaint and
so believe it is no trihe gained to allow the
ones who are most liable to suffer from
the evil effects of intoXcants to make
complaint The law was made to protect
the homes, as well as the industries
trades, ana men OF our State 1t is Il
strange law which does not allow the ones
for whom it was made to use it. Let us
hear from the temperance committee, we
believe them to be honest men.
Yours, X.